According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 9.29 percent of the state was in the moderate to severe stage of drought and was limited mostly to the Southeast and South Central districts. Overall, 30.84 percent of the state was rated from the abnormally dry to the severe drought stage.
Some of these areas received an inch or so of rain this week but was not sufficient to keep the drought from gradually increasing. Temperatures ranged from 47 degrees at El Reno on Thursday, August 20, 2015 to 101 degrees at Hooker on Saturday, August 22, 2015 Temperatures were cooler than normal with highs ranging from the mid 70’s to the low 80’s. Soil temperature averages ranged from 70 degrees at May Ranch to 94 degrees at Hugo There were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork.
Row Crops:
Corn silking reached 94 percent, down 6 points from the previous year and down 6 points from normal. Corn doughing reached 80 percent, up 1 point from the previous year and down 13 points from normal. Corn denting reached 55 percent, up 4 points from the previous year and down 19 points from normal.
Sorghum headed reached 87 percent, up 10 points from the previous year and up 11 points from normal. Sorghum coloring reached 43 percent, down 11 points from the previous year and down 1 point from normal. Sorghum mature reached 14 percent, up 6 points from the previous year and up 3 points from normal. Soybeans blooming reached 75 percent, down 14 points from the previous year and down 8 points from normal. Soybeans setting pods reached 56 percent, up 2 points from the previous year and up 3 points from normal.
Peanuts pegging reached 90 percent, down 9 points from the previous year and down 9 points from normal.
Cotton setting bolls reached 81 percent, down 8 points from the previous year and down 1 point from normal. Cotton bolls opening reached 2 percent, down 7 points from the previous year and down 6 points from normal.
Hay: A third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 79 percent, down 8 points from the previous year and down 1 point from normal. A second cutting of other hay reached 70 percent, up 19 points from the previous year and up 23 points from normal.
Watermelons: Watermelons harvested reached 70 percent, down 6 points from the previous year and down 18 points from normal.
Pasture and Livestock: Conditions of pasture and range were rated at 79 percent good to fair. Livestock condition was rated at 85 percent good to fair.
